Greatest Symphonies of All Time

The Contenders: Page 3XW

41Schumann Symphony 1

42Brahms Symphony No.1 in C Minor

The best Symphony ever written, even surpassing Beethoven's and Bruckner's masterpieces.

43Shostakovich's 7th Symphony ("Leningrad")

This is one of my top 5 symphonies ever. The way Shostakovich tells us of the pain and sorrow the city of Leningrad suffered during the German invasion (and siege of 1941) - and throughout the Stalin totalitarian regime - is absolutely stunning. An immense piece of art!

I listen to this symphony everyday!

44Bruckner's 7th Symphony

A very underrated symphony in my opinion bruckner at his best. Really takes you on an emotional journey

Powerful and melodic, somewhere between Beethoven and Tchaikovsky and so acessable.

Pure geniusSimply perfectExhilarating, yet peacefulFourth movement is amazingly writtenEasy to tell what Mahler's intention was when he wrote this magnificent symphonyPossibly the greatest Mahler symphony

Very different from Rachmaninov's other big symphonic works but is my favorite.

49Mozart's 25th Symphony

I find that any time you can catch Mozart in the minor mode, it's a treat. This little symphony is a delight, especially the first movement. Wouldn't make my top-10, but would certainly get an honorable mention.

An extraordinary piece of music. Majestic, powerful, mysterious, beautiful, terrifying and timeless are all words that describe the symphony. Bruckner died before completing the final movement. However, Simon Rattle conducts a very good recording of the 9th, including an excellent interpretation of the unfinished final movement. A very religious man, Bruckner dedicated the 9th symphony to God.

A tragic and solemn masterpiece, from a personal point of view Bruckner approached his death, doubts and moments of yearning for eternal redemption by God.

The last and unfinished symphony of Anton Bruckner is in some way the most accomplished symphony of all time.

51Brahms Symphony No. 3

I love this symphony above all the others. All the movements are special, but the third movement is especially beautiful and melancholic while the fourth is intensely passionate. This symphony is often underrated probably due to its lack of excitement. But it contains a gentleness that should be appreciated. The more you listen to it, the more wonderful it sounds.

This is my favorite symphonies of all time. There is one recording of it with Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic that always takes my breath away with the horn opening. The third movement may be my favorite movement of all time though with its tragic feeling of reaching out to something but not being able to grasp it. I find the 4th movement incredibly exciting each time too.

Probably my most favourite symphony of all times...I can certainly understand that Carlos Santana borrowed from Brahms :(

52Beethoven's 4th Syphony

Not too long, yet as good as the others

53Franck's Symphony in D Minor

Pity he only wrote one symphony...

54Sibelius' 7th Symphony

Unfortunately the last of Sibelius' ingenious, sophisticated, mysterious, fabulous, thoughtful and fantastic symphonies.

55Brahms's 1st Symphony

It took me a long time to warm up to this symphony (and indeed to Brahms in general), but once I did, it was true love. The first movement, in particular, blows me away. The inner movements don't do as much for me, so it's not clear that this would make my top-10, but it would be close. It *certainly* deserves to be *way* higher than 50!

It was regarded as Beethoven's 10th. The opening is thundering. The last movement is triumphant. The symphony should be rated the first 10.

First and fourth movement are just epic! Plenty of ingenious musical ideas!

56Mozart - Symphony No. 28 in C major, K.

57Haydn's Symphony 45, Farewell

Wonderful modern for its time symphony

58Dvorák's 7th Symphony

Something is seriously wrong when this symphony is all the way down here at 55. It's one of my favorite symphonies. Very strong throughout, it's very nearly as good as the famous 9th. This should be in, or at least near, the top 10.

I, personally, consider this Dvorak's BEST symphony! Undoubtedly his 9th is more famous and also fantastic, but I just think this 7th is more, sincere, less refined and very powerful!